Make space for more gold

STUDENTS from Sheldon College have added to Australia's medal tally, scoring gold in aerospace's version of the Olympics.

Make space for more gold

Sheldon College students (from left) Toby Duffy and Nathan Obermuller, with science faculty leader Dr David Hughes, were part of the team that won the prestigious annual International Space Settlement Design Competition at the Johnson Space Centre in the USA. Photo: Melissa Gibson

Students from Sheldon College have added to Australia's medal tally, scoring gold in aerospace's version of the Olympics.

Eight students from the Thornlands college led a team of 12 Australian students who competed at the 17th Annual International Space Settlement Design Competition, held at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston in Texas, USA.

The other students were drawn from St Aidan's Anglican Girls School and St Laurence's College.

The team battled students from around the world to win the title, making it the third time an Australian team has won the prestigious award.

The competition is open to high school students and is supported by NASA.

Students recreate the experience of working on an aerospace company's proposal team.

The competition asks teams to prepare a tender response to a major infrastructure project located in space.

THIS year the project required the teams to describe the design, development and construction of a space settlement on Venus and develop operational plans to maintain the community and fulfil its business objectives.

Students were given just 48 hours to fully understand the proposal and submit a 50-page design document. They then had to give 35-minute presentations to a group of judges who were all aerospace industry professionals.

Sheldon College director of academics Michael Rohweder congratulated the team and science faculty leader Dr David Hughes on the fantastic result.

"This result is indicative of the academic excellence that is evident at Sheldon College every day," Mr Rohweder said.

Dr Hughes said he was very proud of the efforts of the whole team.

"This international honour is a credit to all the academic teachers at Sheldon College and the work they do with students on a daily basis," he said.